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Four Pitchers Are Cyclones All-Stars

The Brooklyn Cyclones, who lead the New York Penn League in ERA at 2.48 had four pitchers selected to the New York-Penn League All-Star game, starters RHP Gabriel Ynoa, RHP Hansel Robles and RHP Luis Mateo and reliever LHP John Mincone.

Ynoa is third in the NYP in innings pitched, second in WHIP (0.84) and fifth in opponents’ batting average (.196) and fifth in opponents’ walk rate among starters (1.15 BB/9). For the year, he’s 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA with 45 strikeouts against seven walks. I saw him at 90-92, touching 93 in his first start of the year, with the ability to spin a below average slider for a strike. That’s plenty of stuff to succeed in the New York Penn League. He’s just 19, and the Cyclones press release claims he’s the “youngest starting pitcher in franchise history” so there’s a little bit of projection left for him. I view him as a back-end type rotation guy if everything works out and his secondary offerings progress.

Mateo leads the New York Penn League with 67 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched, the fourth-most innings on the circuit. Among starters, Mateo has the second-highest strikeout rate (11.10 K/9) behind only teammat Rainy Lara and has the fourth-lowest walk rate (0.99 BB/9). Overall, he’s 4-4 with a 2.82 ERA. I saw him at 90-95 over the course of 5.2 innings. He was mostly 92-92 with a slider that was 88-90. I, and other professionals behind home plate, had trouble even identifying the pitch. That’s not a good sign. With inconsistent velocity, a full-effort delivery, and two potential plus pitches, I see a bullpen pitcher for Mateo if he ever reaches the big leagues.

Robles is fourth in the NYP in ERA (1.74) with a K/BB over 7 (44 K/6 BB) in 46.2 innings. Apparently, he was up to 94-95 in his last start and mixed in a changeup according to NY Penn League Report’s Dave Gershman. Two facts that limit his ceiling significantly: he’ll be 22 next week and is listed at just 5’11″.

Mincone, a refugee from the Cubs organization, who played indy ball last year, turned 23 in July. In 22.2 innings, he’s fanned 23 and walked three working with a fastball at 87 mph and a curveball at 78. That stuff will play in the New York Penn League and the SAL, but he’ll run into trouble at the higher levels.